Greater New Orleans

JOIN THE CAUSE

Everyone needs healing
sometimes, and afterward, everyone dies sooner or later. All physical healing,
even that of Jesus, was temporary. It did not eradicate the mortality of those
who were healed. This man now walking will one day lay down and die. We must
continually remind ourselves that eternal life is more important than temporary
life. We are about the business of proclaiming the kingdom of God, not just
meeting a passing need.

A few days later, when Jesus
again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 So many
gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he
preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic,
carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the
crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through
it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their
faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 6 Now
some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7
"Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins
but God alone?" 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what
they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you
thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins
are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10 But that you may
know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ."
He said to the paralytic, 11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go
home." 12 He got up, took his mat
and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised
God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" NIV

Dr. David Crosby is pastor of First Baptist New Orleans, 5290 Canal Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana. In pastoral ministry for more than thirty years, he has been the pastor of churches in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. A prolific writer, Crosby has penned many articles for respected newspapers, including the Baptist Standard, New Orleans Times-Picayune, and Houston Chronicle. He is the author of First Principles, (Dove Inspirational Press, Gretna, 2009). Pastor Crosby received a Ph. D. from Baylor University and a Masters of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has three children and lives with his wife in Metairie, Louisiana.